In a statement released today, Dayton, referring to his "advocates who want to be able to smoke leaf marijuana" remark, says the comment "was in no way intended to refer to victims of terrible diseases or their parents, who I was trying to help. I regret that my words were unclear."

He goes on to express two more regrets -- that his proposal to provide funding for research on marijuana's potential to treat infantile seizures while not legalizing medical marijuana has been rejected, and that he's "been wrongly portrayed as the sole barrier between sufferers and their access to medical marijuana."

"That ignores the concerns expressed by the Minnesota Medical Association, the Minnesota Psychiatric Association, and the state commissioners of Health, Human Services, and Public Safety, and many other authorities on public health and public safety," Dayton says.

Dayton still prefers his aforementioned proposal, but concludes his statement by urging "stakeholders on all sides of this issue to work together on this proposal, agree on a compromise that can pass in the Legislature this session, and provide relief this year to children who will otherwise find none if we instead choose to engage in finger-pointing, and a protracted political debate."

In a statement distributed by Minnesotans for Compassionate Care, Maria Botker, a Clinton woman whose daughter suffers from epilepsy, blasted the governor for saying during the 'CCO interview that medical marijuana supporters' opposition to his proposal is tantamount to opposing a measure that would "would help hundreds of kids that are suffering from epilepsy."

"We informed Governor Dayton that we cannot get behind his unworkable proposal when there is a bill on the table that would actually help our children," Botker says. "He responded by taking to the airwaves to accuse us of opposing legislation that would help our children."

"For Governor Dayton to say he is working in the best interest of my daughter is disingenuous," says says. "For him to say I am working against the best interest of my daughter is reprehensible."

-- Follow Aaron Rupar on Twitter at @atrupar. Got a tip? Drop him a line at arupar@citypages.com.

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In the end, Mark Dayton's worst nemesis will turn out to be his buddies in big business when they prove that he's on the wrong side of history. The attitudes that make up this whole mess are extremely uninformed, irrational and outdated. The good people of Minnesota won't take it lightly when they're aware of all of the facts. It is incumbent on everyone who cares about this issue to take it upon themselves to go out and educate. Know the issues, become an expert. The only way we'll get this done in Minnesota is by applying strong and steady pressure.

Face it people whether we vote or not the law enforcement agencies define our rights in the eyes of Dayton. And to further add insult to injury, yes I mean all the people actually suffrring who could benefit from tbe use, we are treated kike ignorant children who cannot dicsern when something isn't good for us and not do it...has anyone else heard a prescription commercial lately where the side effects arent worse than the malady?

Police and correction officers are against legalizing marijuana, even medically, because non-violent drug offenders are one of the main reasons they are employed. The funding police organizations receive to enforce marijuana laws, and drug laws in general, is insane. They get so much money from it that they hire lobbyists to make sure it remains illegal. Dayton in turn backs those lobbyists because they finance his political campaigns. Like most politicians, Dayton doesn't care about the opinions of his constituents. He cares about big money and corporate interests.

This is the most ridiculous over reaction I've ever seen. Where was all the outrage last year? the year before? It's amazing how people can hop on a trend and 'be outraged.' Frankly, I think all drug laws create the same problems prohibition did and are therefore counterproductive. BUT to act like two year olds throwing a tantrum because Dayton isn't doing exactly what you want NOW NOW NOW is stupid. Yeah, he sounds like a dork talkking about smoking leaves. So why isn't anyone making him understand? Why aren't people talking about pills and tinctures and the variety of ways to take in the medicinal benefits? People suffering from extremely poor health are often far too weak to actually smoke anything, and I hope parents aren't trying to get their sick two year olds to start SMOKING! Maybe it's just Aaron Rupar's terrible reporting but it doesn't seem like the supporters of this bill are doing anything except complaining.

Comeon guys. He needs to study the matter further (aka check with the people who give him money first). His paycheck (getting reelected) is way more important to him than your sick kids' pain. Besides... you can just buy it off the street.

Our Governor is a drug addict, which necessarily removes him from posing a strong, logical argument for the legalization of medical marijuana. This sounds somewhat counter-intuitive, but please remember that this man is a depressed alcoholic. Before coming to terms with alcoholism, he used alcohol to self-medicate his depression. After he put alcohol aside, he takes pills to keep his depression under control. He has been battling and using, and battling and using.

Governor Dayton has no power over his individual drug use. If he truly believed that medical marijuana would truly, TRULY, help someone, he would be able to stand up to the cops and debate his point, like an elected official is supposed to do when the time is right! The time is right this time.

I am sick of these weak kneed pussy ass Dems. Thanx to the dcts who treated for 6 yrs I was hooked on legal Rx n it was hell gettin off of em! I SMOKE POT to ease the anxiety n PTSD n PAIN frm that horrible car crash...thanx gov for lookin out for the citizens of your state...asshole!

"Narcotics police are an enormous, corrupt international bureaucracy ... and now fund a coterie of researchers who provide them with 'scientific support' ... fanatics who distort the legitimate research of others. ... The anti-marijuana campaign is a cancerous tissue of lies, undermining law enforcement, aggravating the drug problem, depriving the sick of needed help, and suckering well-intentioned conservatives and countless frightened parents."

-- William F. Buckley, Commentary in The National Review, April 29, 1983, p. 495

Put simply, he doesnt want to loose votes or support for his causes, and theres a generational gap in attitudes toward pot in play in the government. Get with the times!! Most people under 50 approve of or dont care about medical marijuana. They're supposed to speak for the people of MN right? We're not even talking legalizing recreational use here! Why not a referendum? Take it to the voters of MN themselves just like Colorado & Washington did. Im suprised they arent rushing a vote to totally legalize it after hearng the amount of sales tax collected in one month in Colorado.

The police will be against making it legal as they listen to the lies about it if they would do some reading & reseach they would change their minds but that would be easy. Dayton I voted for you but if you can't change you mind on this I'll never vote for you again. As this will help so many people. My little sister would be alive today if big business hadn't turned the country against it. There are Presidents who grew it & said it was a great crop. look it up.

Please, for the sanity of anyone reading your comment, work on your grammar, sir. You state that you are treated like an ignorant child, and I am assuming you want to be treated like an adult. But how can someone treat you like an adult when you can not even properly create a sentence with no errors?

He's a lot better than the corporatist jerk that the radical right ran against him.

I hope Dayton gets re-elected, along with the Democratic legislature; the MN GOP did a crap job when they had control of the lege. Emmer or any of the alternates run by the MN GOP would have been disastrous.

Thank God and the Dems we are in better shape than the poor Republican dominated state next door. Poor Wisconsin - I hope they wake up and throw out their terrible Governor and legislators, and the corrupt money that funds them to act against the interests of their constituents.

well it's not like we didn't defy the odds and vote in Jesse Ventura when we were disgusted with the dems/repubs. Of any state in America, I believe we could vote him out of office because of his stand against the people in Minnesota and we SHOULD if the Medical Marijuana Bill HF 1818 doesn't pass this session.

The support has been bipartisan, but I probably would look for a candidate that supports legalization of medical marijuana.

@Dog Gone "Corporatist". Give me a break! He's no less so than anyone else that ran or was Gov. Wisconsin is doing quite well thank you! Look at the State and their finances. Thank God they Cut the Union influence! Unions are nothing but a money laundering scheme for Democrats. That said, i am no making a statement about grass. But Crazy eyes Dayton is an over medicated freaking lunatic.

@kurt124MN state finances are better than WI; there is no metric of which I am aware in which they are in better status.

And no, the Governor is not an overmedicated freak,he is functioning perfectly well.

But hey - the next time you hear about the 23 vets who commit suicide rather than get help because people like you stigmatize it, look down at the blood on your hands. Like the blood in MacBeth, it won't wash off.